#jiang yanli was definitely coached by nie huaisang

[pastelshroomsbasement]

the gym au i didnt know i needed but now want.

say thank you icky by kard

[sinni-ok-sessi]

Characters of The Untamed rated on how nice I think it would be to get a hug from them (a non-exhaustive list in no particular order)

Lan Xichen: The Obvious Choice™. Strong Lan arms, perfect for hugging. The exact right height to rest his chin on my head. Enfold me in those five million layers of robes, er-ge, and tell me everything will be OK. Possible downsides: high likelihood of waking up dead if Jin Guangyao finds out about it. 10/10, worth it.

Jiang Yanli: another Obvious Choice. The kind of hugger who pays attention to the accompanying gestures, not just the squeezy arms. Definitely a hair-stroker. Probably would kiss the top of my head and I’d be OK with that. 10/10, but wouldn’t it be nice for her to be the huggee rather than the hugger for once?

Nie Mingjue: an excellent choice if what you like in a hug is the comforting weight of steel bands round your torso. And I Do. 9/10

Nie Huaisang: I feel like any time Nie Huaisang hugs you, it turns into you hugging Nie Huaisang, since he is Just Baby when he wants to be. 6/10, still a good time.

Mianmian: not much of a hugger, but would probably oblige if asked nicely. Feel yourself enveloped in the warmth of competence and a strong moral core. 7/10, over too soon.

Jiang Cheng: clearly, Canonically a giver of Great Hugs if you can get him to admit he feels one (1) positive emotion towards you. Excellent arm pressure, bonus points for his efforts to full-body meld with the huggee. 11/10 if you can get ‘em.

Wei Wuxian: this may be heresy, but I very much feel like unless you’re Lan Zhan or one of his siblings, it’s quantity over quality from Wei Wuxian. Good for regular, casual hugs, not so much l i ng e r i n g ones. 7/10, would rather hug him instead.

Jin Xixuan: probably an acceptable hugger after extensive coaching from Jiang Yanli, but it’ll never come naturally. He tries so hard though. 4/10.

Jin Guangyao: absolutely not, no way in hell. A hug would just leave his hands in the exact right position to slip a knife between my shoulderblades. I’ll pass, thanks. -3/10. However, I would hug younger!Meng Yao. It’d probably be a deeply uncomfortable experience for both of us, but I think he needs it.

Song Lan: does Not do hugs, but would give you a nod of acknowledgement that leaves you feeling fantastic about yourself. 5/10.

Xiao Xingchen: hell yes. He’s got the Strong Cultivator Arms™, the boundless love for humanity, the perfect height advantage (look, I am very much a connoisseur of hugs from the short person perspective). He is not, perhaps, a natural at it, but he’s Worked Hard and Put In The Effort and oh boy has it paid off. 10/10.

Lan Qiren: oh so very awkward. He would, if he thought it was necessary, but you’d end up kind of wishing he’d just left you there feeling sad on your own. 3/10.

Lan Wangji: very good hugs (look, he has the Lan Arms™ and also a lot of pent-up emotions better expressed through actions rather than words), but only available to three, maybe four, people in the world. 13/10 if you’re on the Hug List, 5/10 for wistful, daydreamed hugs if not.

Xue Yang: as with Jin Guangyao above, absolutely not. In many ways, a worse time than Jin Guangyao because of the high chance that your hug will be mysteriously Sticky™. Is it blood? Is it candy? Is it viscera? Probably! -10/10.

Wen Qing: very proficient at hugs - perfect pressure, perfect duration - but actually heartfelt ones are restricted to a very limited list of people. 6/10, is this hug a cover for some impromptu acupuncture?

Wen Ning: once he’s figured out the super-strength thing enough to not crack your ribs, an excellent and comfortingly solid hugger. You would absolutely feel loved in a Wen Ning hug. 9/10, one point deducted for lack of body heat.

Jin Ling: much like Jiang Cheng, difficult to persuade to hug you rather than fight you, but if you’re one of the lucky few, prepare to be hugged to within an inch of your life. In a good way. 8/10.

Lan Sizhui: has learnt from both his dads, not to mention Uncle Xichen, and combines quantity and quality of hug to perfection. 15/10.

[bloody-bee-tea]

Brotherhood - All Star Xicheng White Day 3

The prompts for the third day of All Star Xicheng White Day were Good Ending/Bad Ending/Normal and I really wanted to give Jiang Cheng and Lan Xichen a good ending here. It's what they deserve.

Jiang Cheng isn’t actually sure what he’s doing with the letter he just wrote up, but he guesses now that he used up some paper and ink for it, he might as well send it off too.

He reads over it again, but there’s actually not that much to it. It’s just an invitation for Lan Xichen to come to Lotus Pier if he should find seclusion or the Cloud Recesses no longer to his taste. Jiang Cheng made sure to stress that it’s open ended, too, because he doesn’t want to pressure Lan Xichen.

Jiang Cheng would have loved to go into seclusion a number of times in his life—after Lotus Pier burned, after Jiang Yanli died, after Wei Wuxian died—but he didn’t have the luxury to do that. But Jiang Cheng also knows himself well enough to know that he would have gone mad if he stayed in seclusion for a longer period of time.

And he just wants to make sure that Lan Xichen knows that he has other options that are not seclusion or diving back into being a Sect Leader and so he sends the letter off.

Coming to Lotus Pier could be viewed as a vacation, or some well deserved time off for Lan Xichen, and Jiang Cheng hopes he will see it like that as well.

Jiang Cheng doesn’t mean to offend after all, and he hopes he didn’t make a mistake writing to Lan Xichen like this.

He doesn’t even know if Lan Xichen will get the letter, or if Lan Qiren and Lan Wangji will intercept it, and maybe if Jiang Cheng flies fast enough he can get it back.

“Stop that,” Jin Ling suddenly says and Jiang Cheng flinches.

“What?” he bites out, but he flushes slightly, because Jin Ling gives him a very judging look.

“You’re worrying over nothing. Lan Xichen will get the letter and he will not misunderstand because you were very clear in your words and now quit fretting over this,” Jin Ling tells him and Jiang Cheng rolls his eyes at him, though Jin Ling is right on all accounts.

“What do you know about this?” Jiang Cheng mutters, but he tries to put the letter out of his mind.

“I damn well know about your crush on Zewu-Jun,” Jin Ling gives back with a teasing smile.

“Language,” Jiang Cheng reminds him instead of touching on what Jin Ling just said, despite the fact that Jin Ling is right.

Jiang Cheng was never under any illusions that he managed to keep his feelings a secret from his own nephew, but the hope was always there.

“I will watch my language if you stop looking like that,” Jin Ling gives back and then turns his concentration back to the paper work in front of him.

Jiang Cheng tried his best to raise Jin Ling as the next Sect Leader, but being thrust into the position so suddenly and so early leaves Jin Ling at a severe disadvantage against the other Sect Leaders and so Jiang Cheng continues to coach him as best as he can.

“Careful, brat,” Jiang Cheng mutters, but he can’t help the fond feeling in his chest when Jin Ling just rolls his eyes at him.

Jiang Cheng curses the day he allowed Jin Ling to pick up on that habit, because it doesn’t feel that great to be at the receiving end of this, but if Jiang Cheng is being honest, it warms his heart to see that Jin Ling picked up anything from him at all.

~*~*~

Nothing happens for a year, and then almost two, and Jiang Cheng can’t say that he forgot about the letter he sent to Lan Xichen, but it moves into the background after a while.

It was an open ended invitation after all, and Lan Xichen is under no obligations to actually come through on that. It could be that he burned the letter the moment he got it and Jiang Cheng would never even know.

And it doesn’t matter anyway. If Lan Xichen is doing well in seclusion then that’s more than alright with Jiang Cheng and he doesn’t care at all if Lan Xichen got his invitation or what he thinks about it.

Maybe Jiang Cheng overstepped with his offer?

Jiang Cheng shakes his head and pushes those thoughts far away. It doesn’t matter. He sent the letter and everything else is no longer in his hands. He doesn’t care what Lan Xichen thinks about it.

At least that’s what Jiang Cheng keeps trying to tell himself most of the times, with various degrees of success.

Mostly he fails pretty spectacular at it, especially going by the numerous eyerolls he gets from his nephew.

It’s really a pain in the ass that he couldn’t keep his stupid crush on Lan Xichen a secret from Jin Ling, because he most definitely didn’t sign up to be judged by a kid.

Jiang Cheng can’t wait for Jin Ling to fall into love, just so he knows what it feels like to be judged at every corner.

~*~*~

By the time the third year mark comes and passes, Jiang Cheng manages to mostly not think of the letter anymore.

At least until a disciple announces Lan Xichen’s arrival at Lotus Pier to him.

Jiang Cheng’s heart starts to beat faster in his chest, but he tries to not let it show outwardly, before he makes himself presentable and then follows the disciple.

Lan Xichen looks bad, is Jiang Cheng’s first thought when he comes into view. He looks like he lost weight and his face is pale and pinched and Jiang Cheng wants to bundle him up and protect him from the world.

“Zewu-Jun,” Jiang Cheng greets him, opting not to go for Sect Leader, because he’s honestly not quite sure if Lan Xichen still is the acting Sect Leader.

“Sect Leader Jiang,” Lan Xichen softly gives back and bows to him, a letter clutched in his hand where usually his sword or flute would be.

Jiang Cheng can’t see either right now.

He wants to ask what brings Lan Xichen to Lotus Pier, without proper announcement at that, but he can guess when he recognizes the handwriting on the letter.

“Your letter said it’s an open ended invitation,” Lan Xichen says when he follows Jiang Cheng’s gaze. “I wanted to take you up on that, if you don’t mind,” he finishes weakly and Jiang Cheng frowns.

“Of course I don’t mind. I meant what I wrote there. I’m just wondering—” he trails off, because he can’t actually ask why it took Lan Xichen three years to follow his invitation. That would be rude, and Jiang Cheng is not about to spook Lan Xichen away before he even fully arrived.

“The three years—it wasn’t quite voluntary,” Lan Xichen mutters after a long pause and Jiang Cheng goes hot with anger.

Even Zidian sparks lightly on his hand.

“What do you mean, it wasn’t voluntary?” he demands to know and forces himself to soften again when Lan Xichen flinches under his gaze.

“It was—punishment, I guess,” Lan Xichen says with a small smile. “The elders decided that I had to repent for my crimes.”

“Your crimes,” Jiang Cheng presses out. “The crime of getting as thoroughly deceived as everyone else in the goddamn cultivation world?” he spits out and Lan Xichen presses his lips together. “I didn’t see your elders go into seclusion so it can’t be that.”

“It was for that, yes,” Lan Xichen tells him with a shrug. “Apparently I let myself be blinded beyond reason and I needed to reflect on my trust in people.”

“Bullshit,” Jiang Cheng immediately says and then scrubs a hand over his face. “So they put you into seclusion for three years?”

“Yes,” Lan Xichen nods. “I did a lot of thinking but—I don’t think it’s getting me anywhere, to be honest. I’m only moving in circles and I still don’t know where my fault lies,” he finally admits and Jiang Cheng lets out a short laugh.

“Of course it’s not getting you anywhere! It’s not your fucking fault and so no amount of thinking will ever make sense of that.”

Jiang Cheng is entirely unprepared for the hopeful and open look on Lan Xichen’s face as he says that, and Jiang Cheng bristles in defence.

“What?” he snaps out but Lan Xichen doesn’t seem to take offence at his tone.

“You don’t think it’s my fault?” he whispers and the sheer naked hope on Lan Xichen’s face is enough to break Jiang Cheng’s heart apart.

“Of course not! If they think it’s your fault then they should also think it’s Nie Mingjue’s fault, because he trusted him, too. And if they think that then we all have to be at fault, too, because none of us saw past his mask. Nie Huaisang is definitely at fault then as well, because he didn’t tell us what he knew.” Jiang Cheng takes a deep breath to calm himself down before he continues. “It’s just a load of bullshit. We all saw exactly what he wanted us to see and none of us were perceptive enough to notice what he was doing. It’s not your fault you decided to trust your own sworn brother. That brotherhood was supposed to build trust, not ruin it forever.”

Jiang Cheng is entirely unprepared to see tears in Lan Xichen’s eyes, and he doesn’t know what to do about that.

“Thank you,” Lan Xichen whispers, once he wiped those away, and Jiang Cheng pretends he didn’t see anything, because that seems like the safer option. “If it’s not too much of a bother I’d like to stay here for a while.”

“I already invited you in my letter, that hasn’t changed,” Jiang Cheng snaps out at him, because anger is always something he feels more comfortable with.

“And this one is very grateful for that,” Lan Xichen says with another low bow and Jiang Cheng waves over a disciple.

“Show Lan Xichen to his room. He will be joining me for dinner,” he says, though he throws a questioning look at Lan Xichen at the last part.

“Of course I will,” Lan Xichen immediately agrees and Jiang Cheng breathes a little bit easier when he sees how honestly pleased Lan Xichen seems with that.

Jiang Cheng just hopes his stay in Lotus Pier will do Lan Xichen some good.

~*~*~

Lan Xichen is flourishing at Lotus Pier and Jiang Cheng has many, many feelings about that.

Lan Xichen managed to stay idle for about two days after his arrival, before he asked to join in on training—though Jiang Cheng has still not seen Liebing anywhere since his arrival—and soon after that he took over some basic lessons for the smaller kids.

Jiang Cheng wanted to protest that, because this whole thing was so that Lan Xichen could heal, but then he didn’t say anything. He was not about to dictate what Lan Xichen needed to do to heal or come to terms with what happened, and so he gladly handed over that responsibility.

And it seemed to do Lan Xichen a lot of good, because barely two months passed before Lan Xichen could laugh like before and Jiang Cheng definitely felt a very dangerous feeling when he heard it for the first time.

But it’s been a long time since then and now hearing Lan Xichen laugh is as normal as hearing the water murmur and still Jiang Cheng is not getting used to it.

Having Lan Xichen stay in Lotus Pier is not helping his crush at all, and by now Jiang Cheng has to admit that his feelings go way beyond a simple crush. Still, he’s not going to say anything to Lan Xichen, because that would put expectations on Lan Xichen and Jiang Cheng doesn’t want that.

Lotus Pier is supposed to be a refuge for Lan Xichen. Not something he wants to avoid just because Jiang Cheng is not able to keep himself in check.

“You’ve been quiet lately,” Lan Xichen remarks that night during dinner and Jiang Cheng shrugs.

They usually take at least one meal together—never breakfast though, because Jiang Cheng isn’t quitebusy enough to get up at five—and it’s become something Jiang Cheng is definitely looking forward to.

“There’s a lot to do,” Jiang Cheng evasively says, and it’s not even a complete lie.

It’s harvest season and that means Jiang Cheng is being pretty damn busy all day long.

“That’s not it,” Lan Xichen immediately says. “You would complain if it was just that,” he very correctly says and Jiang Cheng kind of fears where this is going.

He doesn’t want Lan Xichen to figure out what he’s feeling for him; he is very content to keep spending time with Lan Xichen like that, without anything else happening ever.

“Why did you sent me that letter all those years ago?” Lan Xichen asks him suddenly and that, at least, is something Jiang Cheng can answer.

“Because I thought after some time, you could use a change of pace. Seclusion might be helpful for a while, to sort out your own thoughts, but I didn’t think it would be good in the long run. I wanted you to have options.”

“That was very thoughtful of you,” Lan Xichen says and there’s a dangerous tone to his voice. “It’s just as thoughtful of you to let me teach the kids and help with paperwork and having a meal with me every day,” Lan Xichen goes on and now Jiang Cheng is convinced that he’s teasing him.

“What is that supposed to mean?” Jiang Cheng snaps out.

“Nothing,” Lan Xichen says with a shrug, but there’s a small smile playing around his mouth. “I just think that if you’re grooming be to be the wife of this household you should at least make your intentions clear,” he then says and Jiang Cheng almost chokes on his tea.

“What the hell,” he splutters out once he can take a breath again, but Lan Xichen only keeps smiling at him.

“It’s been what, a year now? I would say you have courted me very thoroughly. It’s time to make an official move now,” Lan Xichen says as if nothing at all is wrong in the world and Jiang Cheng goes bright red in the face.

“I would never have said anything,” he defends himself, because he wants Lan Xichen to know that, even though his reaction doesn’t seem to be all that bad.

“I know,” Lan Xichen says with a nod. “That’s why I am saying something.”

“Oh,” Jiang Cheng says and his heart is beating very fast when Lan Xichen smiles at him.

“So, about that official courtship,” Lan Xichen says and puts his hand on the table, clearly waiting for Jiang Cheng to take it, which he does almost immediately. “I don’t think shufu will object, so maybe write to him instead of Lan Wangji first,” Lan Xichen advises him and Jiang Cheng doesn’t even know what his heart is doing anymore.

“You would want that?” he has to ask, because he simply needs to make sure that Lan Xichen really, truly feels that way.

“I warned him about receiving a letter with that content months ago,” Lan Xichen teases him. “He was very regretful when he told me nothing of the likes had reached him yet.”

“Goddamit, Xichen, now I started off this whole thing by disappointing him,” Jiang Cheng hisses and he has to admit that he feels better when Lan Xichen laughs softly at him.

“I wouldn’t say disappointed. You’re keeping him on his toes. He’s so excited, he writes me every other week asking where your proposal is.”

“I better should get to that then,” Jiang Cheng grumbles and moves to take his hand back, but Lan Xichen won’t let him.

“If you want that. If you want me,” Lan Xichen lowly says, and suddenly Jiang Cheng is hit by the realization that he still didn’t say anything to Lan Xichen.

“I love you,” he says and it’s almost not hard at all. “Of course I want you.”

He is rewarded for that by a blinding smile and just for that, Jiang Cheng vows to say it often.

“I love you, too,” Lan Xichen says and then leans over the table to brush a quick kiss over Jiang Cheng’s lips. “But you really should write shufu first. He’s about ready to make a trip over here, just to kick your ass,” Lan Xichen tells him and Jiang Cheng groans, before he narrows his eyes at Lan Xichen.

“You know what? Let him. I’d like to ask him for the privilege of marrying you in person,” Jiang Cheng decides and watches in fascination as Lan Xichen goes red at that.

“Oh,” he whispers, clearly taken off guard by that and it only cements Jiang Cheng’s decision.

“I want to do right by you. Simply asking for that in a letter can hardly count as that.”

“You are already doing right by me,” Lan Xichen softly tells him, but it doesn’t change Jiang Cheng’s mind.

“I’m glad to hear that,” he gives back and lifts their hands to press a kiss to the back of Lan Xichen’s.

It might have taken them a long time to get here, but Jiang Cheng thinks it’s still a very perfect end for the both of them.

Link to my ko-fi on the sidebar!

[yea-baiyi]

in an attempt to get myself thinking about cql again, i tried combining it with my current other hyperfixation by generating a figure skating au and i’m SCREAMING thinking about this

i’m just going to stream-of-consciousness all of my ideas into this post because these ideas are so good i am going INSANE

- wwx inspired by kostornaia my beloved — strong skating skills base (because of his parents, then after his parents die he goes to jiang fengmians skating school which puts him in competitive contention. ) jumps are decent but a bit all over the place bc coaches don’t prioritise him, incredible performance charisma, endearing personality but undervalued by federation + school

- wwx could do kostotwilight. and he would. the mental image of wwx doing the twilight ending pose has been haunting me ALL DAY. wwx could do harley quinn. he could do new york new york. he could do departure. tell me i’m WRONG

- i don’t have a solid inspo for lwj but he’s DEFINITELY like those male skaters with the THICK thighs and gorgeous knee bend. i’m picturing glittery outfits, lyrical programmes, strong ss. but maybe low on interpretation. anyway he and wwx are rivals for gold whenever they compete. when wwx drops out he’s undeniable gold.

- lxc style inspired by yuna kim. the excellent all-rounder but kind of quiet/detached from it all. retires after 2 olympics and considered undeniable goat but also out of the competitive scene — on that note, nmj as mao asada??? contemporary and rival with yuna kim, less consistent and less perfect technique, but with higher value jumps and keeps going at it for longer

- i pictured a twin jades side-by-side cantilever and almost burst into tears on the street. like lan brothers would defo have strong core focus stunts. cantilevers. spirals. spread eagles. their edges are so deep i am sweating.

- anyway jiang cheng having a sort of sasha trusova/nathan chen ferocity, strong jumper but ALL over the place, skating skills not too strong but it’s something he wants to work on. later in his career his costumes become increasingly sparkly and scary looking

- jiang yanli/jin zixuan as chock/bates, this one had me cracked up ALL morning,,, nepotism babies, jyl as madison chock aka pretty and girlboss but CANNOT skate, jzx the stronger skater but simps for jyl. fans hate them for being overscored but nobody dares to say anything bc all their fave skaters ADORE jyl. diana davis energy tbh.

- yunmeng trio doing sbs axel jumps like yuzu with virtuemoir……..

- SIDENOTE that video of sasha trusova at rusnats jumping up and down and around diana davis before grabbing her for hugs is wwx with lwj.

- ON THAT NOTE, wq/wn as sui/han. just because i need wen ning to lift wwx like evan bates lifted yuzuru hanyu. lwj is seething with jealousy.

- nie huaisang as satoko miyahara. best costumes and performance and pcs but criminally underscored and overlooked. no da-ge i will NOT fix my jumps :)

- wwx and nhs doing kaori and mai’s besties programme…….

- i actually have a whole plot for this already fully formed PLEASE i don’t know what to do with it???? i’m driving myself INSANE

- i don’t know even know if writing it would be worth it because i don’t know if i can convey the pure emotion that comes with WATCHING skating and attaching my affection for these characters TO such a moment

- like bro imagine wwx hitting that long spiral. like. with the lights. the music beats. i don’t know how to explain this i’m HYSTERICAL. i could supply gifs but it would not convey the experience.

- i can’t keep doing this i’ve driven myself insane over this dumb au that i don’t even know what to do with please send help or suggestions